Gobble, gobble! President Obama marks Thanksgiving by pardoning two turkeys

According to President Barack Obama, he and the pardoned turkeys have something in common: All of them got a second chance this November.

“You know, they say that life is all about second chances. And this November, I could not agree more. So in the spirit of the season, I have one more gift to give. And it goes to a pair of turkeys named Cobbler and Gobbler. The American people have spoken, and these birds are moving forward.”

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US President Barack Obama gestures during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon with his daughters Sasha (2nd R) and Malia (R) on November 21 , 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC.

US President Barack Obama gestures during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon with his daughters Sasha (2nd R) and Malia (R) on November 21 , 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC.

Photo: Getty Images

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Sasha Obama pets Cobbler a 19-week old, 40-pound turkey, as he is pardoned by President Barack Obama on the occasion of Thanksgiving, 21, 2012, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo) less

Sasha Obama pets Cobbler a 19-week old, 40-pound turkey, as he is pardoned by President Barack Obama on the occasion of Thanksgiving, 21, 2012, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. (Jacquelyn ... more

Photo: Jacquelyn Martin / AP Photo

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President Barack Obama, accompanied by daughters Sasha and Malia, laughs at a loud gobble from the turkey, as he pardons Cobbler a 19-week old, 40-pound turkey, on the occasion of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. At left is National Turkey Federation Chairman Steven Willardsen. less

President Barack Obama, accompanied by daughters Sasha and Malia, laughs at a loud gobble from the turkey, as he pardons Cobbler a 19-week old, 40-pound turkey, on the occasion of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov. ... more

Photo: Jacquelyn Martin / AP Photo

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President Barack Obama, with daughters Sasha, center, and Malia, right, carries on the Thanksgiving tradition of saving a turkey from the dinner table with a "presidential pardon," at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012. After the ceremony, "Cobbler" will head to George Washington's historic home in Virginia to be part of the "Christmas at Mount Vernon" exhibition. National Turkey Federation Chairman Steve Willardsen is at left. less

President Barack Obama, with daughters Sasha, center, and Malia, right, carries on the Thanksgiving tradition of saving a turkey from the dinner table with a "presidential pardon," at the White House in ... more

Photo: J. Scott Applewhite / AP Photo

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U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd L) pardons the 2012 National Thanksgiving Turkey Cobbler as daughters Sasha Obama (3rd L) and Malia Obama (R), and National Turkey Federation Chairman Steve Willardsen (L) look on during a Rose Garden event November 21, 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. Cobbler and its companion Gobbler will spend the rest of their lives at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens in Virginia. less

Vice President Richard Nixon "shakes hands" with a 40-pound white turkey, November 14, 1955, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The big bird, a gift from the turkey raisers, is destined for President Eisenhower's Thanksgiving dinner at his Gettysburg, Pa. farm. In the background, left to right, are: Leslie Hubbard of Lancaster, Pa.; Chester Housh of Elkton, Va., who raised the turkey; and Vic Pringle of Broadway, Va. less

Vice President Richard Nixon "shakes hands" with a 40-pound white turkey, November 14, 1955, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The big bird, a gift from the turkey raisers, is destined for President ... more

Photo: William J. Smith / AP Photo

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President Ronald Reagan seems started as John Hendrick, President of the National Turkey Federation, presents him with the annual live ?Thanksgiving Turkey? Friday, Nov. 16, 1984 in Washington at the White House. The live bird was not in the mood to stand still for the photographers who were present for the event. less

President Ronald Reagan seems started as John Hendrick, President of the National Turkey Federation, presents him with the annual live ?Thanksgiving Turkey? Friday, Nov. 16, 1984 in Washington at the White ... more

Photo: Scott Stewart / AP Photo

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U.S. President Bill Clinton gestures toward a turkey presented to him at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1993 by the National Turkey Federation as the Federations President Stuart Proctor looks on. The 30-week-old, 50-pound turkey was raised in New Oxford, Pa. and will retire to Kidwell Farms in Herndon, Va. less

U.S. President Bill Clinton gestures toward a turkey presented to him at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1993 by the National Turkey Federation as the Federations President Stuart Proctor ... more

Photo: Doug Mills / AP Photo

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President Bush, right, pets 'Flyer' after pardoning the National Thanksgiving turkey during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, in Washington. Holding the turkey is Lynn Nutt, left, from Springfield, Mo. less

President Bush, right, pets 'Flyer' after pardoning the National Thanksgiving turkey during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, in Washington. Holding the turkey is Lynn ... more

Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Photo

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Gobble, gobble! President Obama marks Thanksgiving by pardoning two turkeys

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Obama is not the first president to mark Thanksgiving with a presidential pardon for a pair of turkey and likely won’t be the last.

“It is often stated that President Lincoln’s clemency to a turkey recorded in an 1865 dispatch by White House reporter Noah Brooks was the origin for the pardoning ceremony,” states the White House website.

Sasha and Malia Obama joined their father as he pardoned Cobbler and Gobbler on Wednesday.

The president was in a good mood and even cracked a joke on Nate Silver’s account, saying, “Now, I joke, but — but for the first time in our history, the winners of the White House turkey pardon were chosen through a highly competitive online vote. And once again, Nate Silver completely nailed it. The guy’s amazing. He predicted these guys would win.”